For the same reason I use "Github" instead of saying "distributed version control ddos'ed" or "git unavailable on the internet". It picks out a more precise set of attributes and methods and limits the likelihood of slipping into anthropomorphisms such as "The Chinese." In particular it limits the range of what is historically relevant: ground combat against the US Army in the 1950's is, against the USMC in 1900 not so much.

Since I believe this is a matter of foreign policy and international trade, the sovereign and the corporation are the appropriate level of abstraction for analysis and language should reflect that in order to be clear.

Was it the 中國人民解放軍 or the 中华人民共和国?